The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1887-11-24
Democracy and the Tariff.

several important questioos Will Je
forced to an issue. The foremost is
the tariff question, and it comes up
in triple shape: (a) how to re-
duce the tariff; ~ how to reduce
the surplus; (e) how to relieve the
country. The wise disposition OF
the second accomplishes the third.
The democratic party is nearer to-
gether to-day on this question than
it has been for years, we believe.
Whatever is done must be done by
that party, unaided by the republ-
cans. The responsibility ia upon
the party and the time has come to
meet and dispose OF the issue. As
the time approaches when action
must succeed opinion, there has
been an appreciable toning down of
divergent views. There are few ab
solute free traders or protectionists
in the democratic party and those
who havebeen thus denominated find
themselves as the crisis approaches
almost agreeing-so near so in fact
that they find it easy to compromise
what divergence remains. In dis
posing of this question in it's rami-
fed xspccts the time has come to
make everything square to demo-
cratic principle.
How should the tariff be reduced?
We should like to see the internal
internal revenue system wiped out
and we should like to have the say
so in arranging the customs list so
as to protect the new Industries Of
the south particularly and the labor
of the country, but we have decided
not to emigrate to Ethiopia this
year. There are others who have
pet views, and how to reconcile
them is the question. That has al
ways been the difficulty, but now we
think even that has been bridged in
the general widespread expressed
willingness of democrats to abide
the result Of a conference between
the wings Of the party and the exc.
cutlve. If that conference is done
fairly and compromise bill evolv-
ed that shsll be sent to the country
as an administration measure, it
goes with the force and sanction Of
authority and becomes at once a
party edict. 1t solves the question.
How should the surplus be re-
duced? There is a manifold pur-
pose to be met: to get rid of a
disturbing, corruptlng, unnecessary
accumulation of money; to relieve
the (fsncied or actual monetary
stringency; to reduce the debt. The
manner Of doing this should be
evolved from the same conference
and sent out with the same execu
tive sanction. Is it best to buy
bonds outright Is it best to spend
it in converting high interest bear
ing bonds into two-per- cents? II
these bonds were made to run say
thirty years, would not the national
banks eagerly seek them to deposit
as redemption fund? Or should
it be spent on a navy on internal i'm
provemonts, to aid education, to aid
the rehabilitation Of our merchant
marine? These are grave questions
How can relief be afforded the
country? There is an appreciable
lack of confidence in the situation
in the public mind, and whether il
;s founded in any real shortage OF
production, adverse Esl2nce OF
trade, decrease in values, lack OF
circulating medium, or otherwise,
still it exists in the public magma
ton and it is felt as sens!bly ss if II
had real cause, and it must be met.
The country expects, and it has a
right to expect, the party in power
to institute some measure Of relief.
The buying of bonds would give
the money to capitalists who per-
haps would not turn it into circula-
ton. Would it not be better, there
fore, if possible, to replace the bonds
held by national banks with two
per-cents, thus placing the bonus
or difference paid to the banks ex
actly where the people want it? A
hundred thousand dollars in the
vaults Of bank subject to check or
note is of more service to commerce
and trade than a million in the peo-
pies pockets. when the country
knows the banks have plenty Of
money it takes very little Of 1t to
transact it's business. Confidence is
the capital Of commerce.
The policy to be followed in these
matters, We say, should come from
he white house and its execution
should be entrusted to a man whose
views and record are in consonance
with it but who has rot been q rad
zeal factionist. 1t occurs to Ne
that Hon. Benton McMillin is that
man. Able, shrewd, alert, thorough
" up IN political matters, a close
student Of our institutions and their
needs, a man of popular presence
and peculiarly gifted in debate, and
rlthal in active, actual sympathy
with the objects sought and dem
Ocrat of the striCtest school, he is the
man par sxcelience for the work.
Mr.. Cleveland and Mr.. Carlisle have
grsst confidence in Mr.. McMilln
and he is recognized by many as
the coming leader Of his party on
the floor, and in this particular
emergency the speaker should set
him at the head CT the ways and
means committee and utilize his
great abilities and energies in the
accomplishment of the greatest
work democracy has beel called up
on TO undertake in quarter cen
fury.